byWhen I was a little boy in Sunday School, the Biblical story of God’s creation was one of those I found fascinating to study. But as I grew older in the knowledge of God, particularly starting to write articles from studying Genesis (which has always been my favourite book in the Bible), I tend to realise that that story is much more skimmed than studied. Today, I want us to have a look at how God made the first world. Now, notice I didn’t say “create”? Why? God first created the Earth in Genesis 1:1, which nobody had details of how it was until it became void and formless. So, the actual creation story from Genesis 1:6-25 talks about how God fixed the formlessness and voidness situation of the first Earth that was destroyed. I hope you got that. Now, let’s dive in.
Separation of waters
[6] Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” [7] Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. [8] And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.” – Genesis 1:6-8 (NKJV)
Can you take a critical look at this scripture? It’s more than a mere separation of waters; it embodies the creation of Earthly water and the skies (including clouds). The word “firmament” in the scripture means “sky.” So, after God dealt with darkness on the Earth, there was water covering the whole Earth, visible in the eyes of the Lord. And if water has covered everywhere, how can organisms that He intends to call into existence, which don’t survive in water, live? You see!
First, there was no firmament (sky) to bring the separation in the waters. Sp, God called the sky into existence when He said “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters …” (see Genesis 1:6). But God saw that it was not enough to make a sky because even if it’s there, the waters will not be separated. Think about that! So God continued to say, in the same Genesis 1:6, that “… and let it divide the waters from the waters”. This is how the water forms clouds. Yes, if you were thinking of how clouds were not mentioned in Genesis, yet they are in the world today, here they are.
According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, a cloud is just a visible particle of condensed vapour (such as water or ice) suspended in the atmosphere of a planet. God knew that there would be birds and other winged animals that would use the skies; at the same time, the Earth will need rain. That is why water is still in the skies, but in the form of clouds, and when they are heavy, the fall as rain and some as snow during winter.
After dividing the skies from the Earth, God named it Heaven. Here is a Bible study tip. If you see the word “heaven” used in several parts of the scripture, it might be referring to the skies, although some refer to heaven as the spiritual abode of God.
Separation of land from the groundwater
Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. [10] And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good. – Genesis 1:9-10 (NKJV)
Now, after separating the skies from the water on the land, it was time to bring in more separation on the Earth. So, God commanded the water under the heavens (skies) to be gathered together into one place. But that was not all. He continued, “… and let the dry land appear.” So, just because God gathered the groundwater in one place didn’t mean that the land would automatically come. No! God called the land also into existence. That was when He called the dry land “Earth.” The word “Earth” there means “habitable ground.” So, at this point, it was only the skies, groundwater and dry land on the Earth. No trees, animals or humans yet.
God also called the waters gathering together “Seas.” He knew there would be more demarcations in it. But for now, give it a general name. That is why we have many seas on the Earth today, even though the water on the planet covers ample space.
Even more demarcations for the land
[11] Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. [12] And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. [13] So the evening and the morning were the third day.” – Genesis 1:11-13 (NKJV)
After calling the land to existence, God shifted His focus from the waters to getting more creatures on the land. That is when He commanded the Earth (habitable ground) to bring forth grass (representing the forest reserves), the herb (representing all seed-bearing plants) and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind whose seed is in itself (representing all fruit-bearing plants). That was all for that day.
Well, you might think that’s just a little for a day. But have you considered the diverse species of trees on the Earth? All of them came into existence in a day. That’s enough work for a day. Right?
Separation of times, seasons, days and years
[14] Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; [15] and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. – Genesis 1:14-15 (NKJV)
Have you ever wondered why we have different seasons (talking about summer, winter, autumn and spring), signs (for example, the end times), days and years? Genesis 1:14-15 is where God brought that separation. At first, it was just night and day [(or evening and morning); see Genesis 1:5,8,13]. But now, it’s months, years, decades and even centuries. The Earth has four distinct seasons (summer, winter, autumn, spring), but in many regions, particularly Africa, two main seasons – rainy and dry – dominate the climate. In our individual lives, there are seasons. As long as this Earth remains, there will always be times and seasons (see Genesis 8:22).
Demarcations in lights
[16] “Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. [17] God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, [18] and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. [19] So the evening and the morning were the fourth day. — Genesis 1:16-19 (NKJV)
God didn’t only bring separations in times and seasons. He also made lights to govern the days and the nights. That was when He intentionally made (not command) the greater light (which is the Sun) and the lesser light (signifying the moon). He also made the stars (including all the galaxies). In Genesis 1:17, the Bible says God placed these creatures in the skies of the heavens in a way that they’ll supply light to the Earth. That explains why the position of the Earth on the solar system is so accurate that the Sun’s influence is just enough for it, as is the moon and the stars. Issues like global warming are not from God but from how badly we humans have managed the Earth God placed us on.
Creatures in the skies, groundwater and land
[20] Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” [21] So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. [22] And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” [23] So the evening and the morning were the fifth day. [24] Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. [25] And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. — Genesis 1:20-25 (NKJV)
Now that the lights in the skies have been well settled, it was time to bring more life to the Earth. In the seas, God commanded it to be filled with an abundance of living creatures. Then, for the skies, birds of diverse species should also come into existence. For the great sea creatures (say huge animals like sharks and whales), God created them (see Genesis 1:21). That is why I believe those creatures are not so numerous and common as compared to others like salmon and tunas.
God blessed those animals by saying, “… Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” [Genesis 1:22 (NKJV)]. So, a part of the reason why some creatures are not extinct is because of God’s blessings upon them.
Shifting His focus on the dry land creatures, God said,
… “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind” — Genesis 1:24 (NKJV)
In verse 24, He commanded them into existence. But in Genesis 1:25, He made all those animals, including the creeping ones like crabs and lizards. So there are beasts on the Earth, even if they have not yet been revealed to many. But for whatever God creates or commands into existence, He places the reproductive element in it to keep producing new ones, and that is so for humans also.
I want to end here for this article release. Look out for the next one soon.
You are a blessing!
